During a visit with my family doctor, and in my attempt at collaborative health management, I happily shared with him some information I found online. He replied skeptically, familiar with telling other patients his concern with the quality of health information found on the Internet.
The Internet is a useful and powerful tool but it is for the most part unregulated. Popular search engines will generate information from any web source including commercial business, government, and even your neighbour if he has a website. Obtaining health information from such a broad spectrum of sources can cause confusion when determining what is good from bad quality, and worse, many come to accept what is read on screen at face value without knowing how to properly evaluate it. Given that health related queries are among the most popular searches, one can safely assume there is a lot of wrong information being circulated.
Although no website can be a substitute for a visit with your physician, a less concerning search method is offered at the Thunder Bay Public Library. TBPL’s website offers patrons the ‘My Giant Search’ link to health databases containing articles from credible sources. The resources found here come from a variety of respected publications that include medical journals, books, serials and periodicals. Full text and peer reviewed articles are also available. Many of the publications found in these databases cannot be accessed through the use of common Internet search engines without a paid subscription, but are available to library patrons at no cost.
Health databases available through the virtual collection include the following: Alt HealthWatch focuses on complimentary, holistic and integrated approaches to health care; Health and Wellness Resource Centre and Consumer Health Complete are two comprehensive resources for consumers interested in anything from mainstream medicine to alternative treatments; Teen Health and Wellness covers medical topics of interest to youth and young adults; and Health Reference Centre Academic contains databases geared towards users with a formal health training or background. Access these databases from our Web site, www.tbpl.ca, under "Research". Click on the Sleeping Giant to log in to My Giant Search. If you're outside the Library you'll need to log in with your Library card number and PIN.
If you are looking for health information online, practice your search skills on our staff selected health web sites such as Family Doctor.org, Health Canada and Medline Plus. These internet links and more can also be accessed from Delicious.
Don’t forget to browse the library’s print collection for more health information. TBPL has a wide variety of medical books including topics such as diseases, pharmaceuticals, natural medicine, healthy living, medical specialties, and more. For more information on Canadian healthcare professionals and facilities, the library carries the Guide to Canadian Healthcare Facilities and the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties.
Arlene Danyleyko, Library Assistant
The "@ Your Library" Column appears in the Sunday edition of the Chronicle Journal newspaper. The Column is written by staff at the Thunder Bay Public Library. Library staff also write for other publications, and those columns will occasionally be posted here as well. This blog helps us share our writing with a broader audience, and provides our readers with a forum for feedback. We welcome your comments!
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